THE READING MOTHER
By
Strickland Gillilan
With Alternating Additions
By
Teresa Thomas Bohannon

I HAD A MOTHER who read to me
Sagas of pirates, who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.

I TOO HAD A MOTHER who read to me
Tales of fairies who danced on the breeze,
Wings that glittered by day and glimmered by night,
Brownies and elves that played wild and free.

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I too had a Mother who read words that sang
Of wondrous lands and magic yesterdays;
Stories of Marion and Beth and Jo,
Which every girl has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales, 
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I too had a Mother who read to me 
Of Unicorns, and horses and fairy tales,
Full of truth and trust, cleverness and life,
And little life lessons sheathed in strife.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.

I had a Mother who gave me the gift
Of heart truths and courage and wings to life’s journey-
Myths and legends that lend strength to the night,
Oh, that the mother of all girls were wisely thus.

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.

You may have beauty to spare and trinkets galore;
Toys and trimmings and be envied more.
But more fortunate than I you never can be --
For I had a Mother who gave me whole worlds
…and taught me to dream.